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The Faces of Health Care: Peter M.

Summary: 
Peter M. from Texas shares his story of how the Affordable Care Act changed his life.

"...I've felt strong enough to liberate some of my extra savings that I'd been holding onto for healthcare emergencies, so I'm now able to help more with my son's college expenses ... My guess is that there are many more Americans whose new health insurance is already allowing them to contribute more fully to the economy and their communities."


Peter M. is a single dad from Austin, Texas who was uninsured for 10 years after his previous self-proclaimed "junk" insurance grew increasingly expensive. And he's experienced his fair share of health problems: At the time he wrote the President this past June, he was doing part-time work to help make ends meet while managing his illness.

Here's the good news: After enrolling in a plan through the Health Insurance Marketplace that kicked in last January, Peter wrote the President to let him know that he was "starting to have dreams of working full time again." He began freeing up his extra savings -- tucked away in case of health care emergencies -- to help pay for his son's college expenses, to refinance his home, and even to buy a new car.

For Americans like Peter, affordable coverage thanks to health reform hasn't just meant being able to better provide for their own families -- but being able to contribute to both the economy and their local communities, as well. That's a big deal.

Every one of us can play a part in sharing stories like Peter's. If you've got one of your own, you can share it here

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